Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 184 / Friday, September 22, 2006 / Notices 55513 

time for submitting responses to the 

complaint and the notice of 

investigation will not be granted unless 

good cause therefor is shown. 

Failure of the respondent to file a 

timely response to each allegation in the 

complaint and in this notice may be 

deemed to constitute a waiver of the 

right to appear and contest the 

allegations of the complaint and this 

notice, and to authorize the 

administrative law judge and the 

Commission, without further notice to 

the respondent, to find the facts to be as 

alleged in the complaint and this notice 

and to enter an initial determination 

and a final determination containing 

such findings, and may result in the 

issuance of a limited exclusion order or 

cease and desist order or both directed 

against the respondent. 

Issued: September 19, 2006. 

By order of the Commission. 

Marilyn R. Abbott, 

Secretary to the Commission. 

[FR Doc. 06–8046 Filed 9–21–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7020–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Proposed collection, comment request 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as 

part of its continuing effort to reduce 

paperwork and respondent burden, 

conducts a pre-clearance consultation 

program to provide the general public 

and Federal agencies with an 

opportunity to comment on proposed 

and/or continuing collections of 

information in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This 

program helps to ensure that requested 

data can be provided in the desired 

format, reporting burden (time and 

financial resources) is minimized, 

collection instruments are clearly 

understood, and the impact of collection 

requirements on respondents can be 

properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 

concerning the proposed revision of the 

‘‘The Consumer Expenditure Surveys: 

The Quarterly Interview and the Diary.’’

A copy of the proposed information 

collection request (ICR) can be obtained 

by contacting the individual listed 

below in the ADDRESSES section of this 

notice. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

submitted to the office listed in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice on or 

before November 21, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. 

Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, Division 

of Management Systems, Bureau of 

Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 2 

Massachusetts Avenue, NE., 

Washington, DC 20212, 202–691–7628. 

(This is not a toll free number.) 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 

202–691–7628. (See ADDRESSES section.) 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The Consumer Expenditure (CE) 

Surveys collect data on consumer 

expenditures, demographic information, 

and related data needed by the 

Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other 

public and private data users. The 

continuing surveys provide a constant 

measurement of changes in consumer 

expenditure patterns for economic 

analysis and to obtain data for future 

CPI revisions. The CE Surveys have 

been ongoing since 1979. 

The data from the CE Surveys are 

used (1) for CPI revisions, (2) to provide 

a continuous flow of data on income 

and expenditure patterns for use in 

economic analysis and policy 

formulation, and (3) to provide a 

flexible consumer survey vehicle that is 

available for use by other Federal 

Government agencies. Public and 

private users of price statistics, 

including Congress and the economic 

policymaking agencies of the Executive 

branch, rely on data collected in the CPI 

in their day-to-day activities. Hence, 

data users and policymakers widely 

accept the need to improve the process 

used for revising the CPI. If the CE 

Surveys were not conducted on a 

continuing basis, current information 

necessary for more timely, as well as 

more accurate, updating of the CPI 

would not be available. In addition, data 

would not be available to respond to the 

continuing demand from the public and 

private sectors for current information 

on consumer spending. 

In the Quarterly Interview Survey, 

each consumer unit (CU) in the sample 

is interviewed every three months over 

five calendar quarters. The sample for 

each quarter is divided into three 

panels, with CUs being interviewed 

every three months in the same panel of 

every quarter. The Quarterly Interview 

Survey is designed to collect data on the 

types of expenditures that respondents 

can be expected to recall for a period of 

three months or longer. In general the 

expenses reported in the Interview 

Survey are either relatively large, such 

as property, automobiles, or major 

appliances, or are expenses which occur 

on a fairly regular basis, such as rent, 

utility bills, or insurance premiums. 

The Diary (or recordkeeping) Survey 

is completed at home by the respondent 

family for two consecutive one-week 

periods. The primary objective of the 

Diary Survey is to obtain expenditure 

data on small, frequently purchased 

items which normally are difficult to 

recall over longer periods of time. 

II. Current Action 

Office of Management and Budget 

clearance is being sought for the ‘‘The 

Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The 

Quarterly Interview and the Diary.’’

The Consumer Expenditure Quarterly 

Interview Survey has recently 

undergone a thorough review. The 

proposed changes from this review fall 

into two major categories: streamlining 

the current questions in several sections 

and updating several questions and 

sections to reflect the current 

marketplace. 

In the streamlining category, the BLS 

deleted or collapsed obsolete questions. 

Examples of deleted or collapsed 

questions include: making refrigerators 

and freezers one item code rather than 

two codes in all applicable sections, 

adding screener questions for some 

miscellaneous items which reduces the 

need to ask about each individual item, 

and regrouping questions about 

expenditures on food and beverages so 

fewer questions are asked of the 

respondent. In addition, the BLS, 

restructured how expenditures for 

telephone services and utilities are 

collected making the collection process 

more efficient and less burdensome on 

the respondent. 

To keep the survey current, question 

wording changed and new items were 

added. Examples of new items added 

are Voice Over IP services, vacation 

clubs, changes in premiums for 

Medicare Part D, interest only 

mortgages, and reverse mortgages. 

Question wording also was changed in 

some sections to collect additional data 

for some items. Examples of changes to 

question wording include more detailed 

information for timeshare properties; 

questions on installation and set-up 

charges included with the purchase of 

televisions, home theater, and audio 

equipment; and whether, in select 

Primary Sampling Units (PSUs), a rental 

property is under rent control. These 

changes were made to keep the survey 

current with products and services 

available in the marketplace and to 

provide better data for analytical 

purposes. 

A full list of the proposed changes to 

the Quarterly Interview Survey is 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
55514 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 184 / Friday, September 22, 2006 / Notices 

available upon request. There are no 

changes to the Diary Survey for 2007. 

III. Desired Focus of Comments 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is 

particularly interested in comments 

that: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the agency, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility. 

• Evaluate the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used. 

• Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected. 

• Minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology, 

e.g., permitting electronic submissions 

of responses. 

Type of Review: Revision of a 

currently approved collection. 

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Title: The Consumer Expenditure 

Surveys: The Quarterly Interview and 

the Diary. 

OMB Number: 1220–0050. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

households. 

Form Total 

respondents Frequency Total responses 

Average 

time per 

response 

Estimated 

total burden 

CE Quarterly Interview CAPI Instrument ........................... 8,825 4 35,300 65 38,242 

CE Quarterly Interview Reinterview CAPI Instrument ....... 4,000 1 4,000 10 667 

CE Diary: Household Questionnaire CAPI Instrument ...... 7,050 3 21,150 25 8,813 

CE: Diary CE–801, Record of Your Daily Expenses ........ 7,050 2 14,100 105 24,675 

CE Diary Reinterview CAPI Instrument ............................. 1,300 1 1,300 10 217 

Totals .......................................................................... ........................ ........................ 75,850 ........................ 72,614 

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 

$0. 

Total Burden Cost (operating/ 

maintenance): $0. 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice will be summarized and/or 

included in the request for Office of 

Management and Budget approval of the 

information collection request; they also 

will become a matter of public record. 

Signed at Washington, DC, this 15th day of 

September 2006. 

Kimberley Hill, 

Acting Chief, Division of Management 

Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

[FR Doc. 06–8059 Filed 9–21–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–24–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Advisory Committee for Environmental 

Research and Education; Notice of 

Meeting 

In accordance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–

463, amended), the National Science 

Foundation announces the following 

meeting: 

Name: Advisory Committee for 

Environmental Research and Education 

(9487). 

Dates: October 18, 2006, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. 

and October 19, 2006, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. 

Place: Stafford II, Room 555, National 

Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., 

Arlington, Virginia 22230. 

Type of Meeting: Open. 

Contact Person: Alan Tessier, National 

Science Foundation, Suite, 4201 Wilson 

Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22230. Phone 703–

292–7198. 

Minutes: May be obtained from the contact 

person listed above. 

Purpose of Meeting: To provide advice, 

recommendations, and oversight concerning 

support for environmental research and 

education. 

Agenda: October 18—Update on recent 

NSF environmental activities, Planning for 

Diversity Workshop, Update on the social 

and human impact of NEON, Update on NSF 

Plans for Water Research, AC–ERE task group 

meetings, Presentation on the NAS 

International Human Dimensions of Global 

Change committee. 

October 19—AC–ERE task group reports, 

Discussion of Biological Sciences Themes in 

Environmental Research and Education, 

Update on Cyberinfrastructure for Observing 

Systems, International Polar Year Update, 

Meeting with the Director (or 

Representative). 

Dated: September 19, 2006. 

Susanne Bolton, 

Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 06–8028 Filed 9–21–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–M 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Committee on Equal Opportunities in 

Science and Engineering; Notice of 

Meeting 

In accordance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–

463, as amended), the National Science 

Foundation announces the following 

meeting: 

Name: Committee on Equal Opportunities 

in Science and Engineering (1173). 

Dates/Time: October 17, 2006, 8:30 a.m.–

5:30 p.m. and October 18, 2006, 8:30 a.m.–

2 p.m. 

Place: National Science Foundation, 4201 

Wilson Boulevard, Room 375, Arlington, VA 

22230. 

Type of Meeting: Open. 

Contact Person: Dr. Margaret E.M. Tolbert, 

Senior Advisor and Executive Liaison, 

CEOSE, Office of Integrative Activities, 

National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 

Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: 

(703) 292–8040. mtolbert@nsf.gov. 

Minutes: May be obtained from the 

Executive Liaison at the above address. 

Purpose of Meeting: To provide advice and 

recommendations concerning broadening 

participation in science and engineering. 

Agenda 

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 

Welcome and Opening Statement by the 

CEOSE Chair. 

Introduction of New CEOSE Members. 

Reports by CEOSE Liaisons to NSF 

Advisory Committees and Discussion of 

Key Points. 

Discussion: Representatives of Several 

Federal Agencies to Participate in a 

Discussion of Broadening Participation 

Programs and Activities at Their 

Agencies. 

Interaction with an NSF Senior Manager. 

Subcommittee Report on Institutional 

Transformation and Discussion of Plans 

for a Future Mini-Symposium on That 

Topic. 

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 

Opening Statement by the CEOSE Chair. 

Reports by Subcommittee Chairs and 

Discussions Continued: Community 

Colleges, Communications, Evaluation 

and Accountability, and Preparation of 

the 2006 CEOSE Biennial Report to 

Congress. 

Completion of Unfinished Business: 

Refining Potential Recommendations to 

NSF and Action Items. 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES